Drowning Reported

June 8, 1986|By Peter Aronson, Staff Writer

LANTANA -- A 38-year-old Vietnam veteran with psychological problems drove his car to the edge of Lantana Municipal Beach on Saturday evening, ran to the water, undressed to his shorts, then swam out 200 yards and drowned, police said.

About 10 to 15 people witnessed the 6:45 p.m. incident, which Detective Sgt. William Hancsak said appeared to be a suicide.

One witness paddled out to the man on his sailboard and attempted to revive him with cardiopulmonary resuscitation. He brought him ashore, where paramedics also tried CPR before transporting him to John F. Kennedy Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 7:30 p.m., Hancsak said.

He said the man drove through the accessway at A1A and Ocean Boulevard to an area used to launch boats, before getting out and running toward the beach.